Fioravante (Fiore) Coccimiglio, age 82 years, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family at Bethammi Nursing Home on Tuesday June 22nd, 2021.
He was born in Aiello Calabro, Cosenza, Italy on February 3rd, 1939 to Pasquale Coccimiglio and Francesca Muto. Fiore left his cherished Calabria in 1955 via boat (MS Vulcania) crossing the ocean to Canada where he arrived in Halifax and then travelled by train to Port Arthur, Ontario. He made this epic voyage alone at the age of 16 to work alongside his older brother, Gaspare with the R.F. Welch (Veltri) Company working on the CNR railroads. Fiore initially worked bringing water to the workers, but eventually with his hard work and well-liked demeanour, became a foreman. As the years passed, Fiore yearned for a life back in Calabria, Italy, so in 1963 he decided to return to Italy. While there, a beautiful young woman of 19 years caught his eye and on October 4th, 1964 Fiore married the love of his life, Luigina Pucci. They purchased a small farm and worked tirelessly to cultivate a mix of olive trees, fruit trees, wheat and corn. Fiore and Luigina started a family during this time with the birth of their first child Pasquale in 1965 and Francesco in 1966. It quickly became clear to Fiore that the farm in Italy would not be enough to sustain his family, so in 1968 he made the difficult decision to return to work in Canada in order to better support the family. After several years of separation from his family, Fiore made the monumental decision to move the entire family to Canada in 1973. After the birth of their third child Roberto in 1975, Fiore worked in the construction industry and for the last 20 years prior to his retirement, was a forklift operator at the Provincial Paper Mill in Thunder Bay, Ontario. He was a long-time member of the Italian Society of Port Arthur and a committed parishioner of St. Anthony’s RC Church.
Fiore was a kind, gentle soul who had an extraordinary work ethic dedicated entirely to giving the best life possible to his family. He continued his passion for farming by growing a multitude of vegetables in his large garden. A sweet man who was loved by all, he took pride in the annual traditions of winemaking and his homemade delicious Italian salamis.
He will be lovingly remembered by his wife Luigina of 57 years and by his children Pasquale (Sandra) Coccimiglio, Francesco (Carolina) Coccimiglio, Roberto (Tammy) Coccimiglio, grandchildren Gabriela (Christian) O’Brien, Michael, Anthony, Isabella, Gianluca, Noah & Caleb; his sister, Iolanda (Ernesto) Coccimiglio and his brother, Orlando (Nella) Coccimiglio; brother-in-laws Giovanni (Francesca) Pucci, Agostino(Iolanda) Pucci, sister-in-law, Teresa Pucci, Stano (Teresa) Pucci, and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces in Canada and Italy. He was predeceased by his parents, his in-laws Salvatore and Elena Pucci, brother, Gaspare (Antonietta) Coccimiglio, sister, Assunta (Emilio) Perri, brother, Agostino Coccimiglio and numerous other relatives.
Special thanks for the amazing and loving care received from the entire staff at Bethammi Nursing home.
Due to restrictions a visitation with social distancing will be held on Friday, June 25, 2021, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with vigil prayers beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Sargent & Son Funeral Chapel, 21 N. Court Street. Those wishing to attend the visitation are asked to register on Fiore’s page at www.sargentandson.com. The prayer service will be available to watch virtually on Sargent and Son Facebook page. Funeral Services will be held with family members only at St. Anthony’s Church on Saturday, June 26th, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. Those wishing to attend virtually may do so by going to Sargent & Son Facebook page. Entombment will follow in Our Lady of Charity Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy memorials to St. Joseph’s Foundation-Bethammi or St. Anthony’s RC Church would be appreciated. Online condolences may be made at www.sargentandson.com.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Fioravante Fiore Coccimiglio Tuesday June 22nd 2021..
sargent and son funeral directors
Death notice for the town of: THUNDER-BAY, Province: Ontario